Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"Bryan joined the Bureau in 1940, being a member of the first war-time meteorologist training course. From the training course he was posted with Doug Forder and Arch Shields to the RAAF station at Pearce in Western Australia. He was posted with Arch Shields to Timor as a RAAF Flying Officer in 1942. He and Arch had many interesting experiences in Timor, including frequent bombing and strafing by Japanese aircraft. When the decision was made to evacuate Koepang, it was impossible for all RAAF personnel to be evacuated and Arch and Bryan tossed a coin to see who should stay. Bryan remained and was put in charge of the RAAF detachment which evaded the Japanese for some months, before being picked up from a beach at night by an American submarine.

As a result of his outstanding leadership of this party under excessively trying jungle conditions and continual harassment by Japanese patrols, Bryan was awarded the MBE. Bryan returned to Perth in an emaciated condition but with a most luxuriant beard. After a brief period in hospital he was posted to East Sale and subsequently saw service in charge of a RAAF Mobile Meteorological Flight and at various RAAF stations, being discharged in 1946 with the rank of Squadron Leader..." - READ MORE LINK (www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au)

The story of the escape evasion and rescue of the Koepang RAAF Rear Party, led by Bryan Rofe, is told in the book 'Rescue at 1900 Hours' by Rofe's grandson, hitorian and author Tom Trumble.

TRUMBLE, T 'Rescue at 1900 Hours', 2013 Penguin Group (Australia) ISBN 940.54811469